Wasps and their Nests

Have you seen black and yellow striped pests buzzing near your home? Not sure if it’s a wasp, a bee, or something else? We know how it feels when your home doesn’t feel like a place you can enjoy because of pests – many of our summer calls are about wasps. Let’s learn more about these insects, their nests, and how to enjoy your home without them. 

Wasps are interesting creatures and important for the ecosystem. They’re also loud and swarmy, and when they build nests on our homes, they become a real nuisance. If you get too close and they feel threatened, they can be dangerous. 

Types of Wasp Nests 

Not all wasps build nests in eaves or trees. Some, like yellow jackets and hornets, build nests in abandoned burrows. Here are some common types of wasp nests: 

Mud Dauber Nests

Made from mud in a distinctive tubular or pipe organ-like structure, found on buildings or under eaves. Mud daubers are solitary wasps and are not aggressive.  

Paper Wasp / Social Wasp Nests

Umbrella-shaped nests are made from chewed fibers mixed with saliva and are often open with visible hexagonal cells. Nests are attached to trees, shrubs, and buildings. These wasps live in colonies and can be aggressive near their nests.  

Yellowjacket Nests

Nests can be found in underground burrows, inside attics and sheds, or anywhere secluded. This image was sent to us by a Fox Pest Control technician and was inside a poolside storage bench. These nests can get quite large and are made from a paper-like material created by wood fibers and saliva. Yellowjackets live in large colonies and are very aggressive, particularly when their nests are threatened. 

Bald-Faced Hornet Nests

Made from paper-like material, these nests are large, football-shaped, and fully enclosed with a single opening. They are found in bushes, trees, shrubbery, or under building eaves, 3 to 60 feet above ground. Bald-faced hornets live in large colonies that are highly aggressive and will defend their nests vigorously.

How to Get Rid of a Wasp Nest 

If you find a wasp nest on your property, it’s important to take care of it quickly. The bigger the nest, the more wasps there are, and that’s when it becomes dangerous.  

We don’t recommend you try to remove a wasp nest on your own. Wasps are very territorial and will get aggressive if they feel their nest is in danger. Unlike honey bees, wasps can sting repeatedly. Don’t risk it—let us handle it for you! 

At Fox Pest Control, we’re experts in wasp control and removal. Call us today for a free inspection and estimate. We know how to protect your home and family from aggressive wasps. 

Tips to Keep Wasps Away

Want to keep wasps from building nests in your yard? Try these tips: 

1. Wasp Nest Decoy: Make a decoy nest and put it near areas where wasps usually build nests. This can help keep them away. 

2. Wasp Trap:  Build your own wasp trap to deter wasps from building a nest in your yard.

 Materials Needed: 

• Two-liter soda bottle 
• Scissors or sharp knife 
• Packing tape or duct tape 
• Wire 

Steps: 

1. Cut the top of the bottle just below the rounded part near the spout.

2. Remove and discard the cap.

3. Turn the cut-off top upside down and place it into the bottom of the bottle (like a funnel).

4. Tape the two parts together securely.

5. Fill the bottom of the bottle with a few inches of sugar water or soda.

6. Poke two holes near the top edge and thread the wire through for hanging.

7. Hang the trap near wasp nests or where wasps are active.

Reusing the Trap: 

• Fill the trap with water or vinegar and leave it in the sun to kill the wasps.
• Remove the wire and tape, empty the dead wasps, refill with bait, and reattach the funnel.
• Hang it up again.

How It Works

Wasps enter through the funnel to get the sugar water but can’t find their way out. If you’re worried about trapping both wasps and bees, you can use meat and a little vinegar instead of sugar water. The meat attracts the wasps, and the vinegar keeps the bees away because most honey bees feed only on flowers and other sugary food sources.  

Even with decoys and traps, wasps might still come into your yard. Some species ignore decoys and build nests, and others, like ground wasps, don’t care about nests in eaves or trees.  

When you sign up for our Home Protection Plan, we treat your home every three months, ensuring that wasps don’t stand a chance at settling in on your home. When we inspect your home, we’ll take care of any existing wasp nests and advise you on steps you can take to reinforce our treatments. If you’re tired of wasps taking over your home and ready for peace of mind, call Fox Pest Control today. We’re here to help you enjoy your home and protect your family. 

Fox Pest Control

no bugs. simply better.